U.S. patent application number 16/061822 was filed with the patent office on 2020-08-20 for mechanical connection for panels.
The applicant listed for this patent is Guido SCHULTE. Invention is credited to Franz-Josef Eschlbeck, Guido Schulte.
Application Number | 20200263714 16/061822 |
Document ID | 20200263714 / US20200263714 |
Family ID | 1000004839929 |
Filed Date | 2020-08-20 |
Patent Application | download [pdf] |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200263714 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Schulte; Guido ; et
al. |
August 20, 2020 |
MECHANICAL CONNECTION FOR PANELS
Abstract
Mechanical connection for panels at their edge sides (5, 10)
which are to be connected to one another, wherein adjacent first
and second panels (1, 2) can be locked in the horizontal and
vertical direction by a substantially perpendicular joining
movement, wherein, for vertical locking, a locking edge (8) is
arranged on the first panel (1) and a locking element (6), which
can be displaced relative to the panels (1, 2), is arranged on the
second panel (2), which locking element can be displaced behind the
locking edge (8) by a pivoting movement. The locking element (6)
has a locking projection (17) for displacing behind the locking
edge (8) and an arcuate guide arm (16) which is guided in a guide
groove (7) of the second panel (2) and is designed to be partially
withdrawn from the guide groove (7) with a rotary or pivoting
movement of the locking element by virtue of a leg (18), which
projects from the guide groove (7), of the locking element (6)
coming into contact with the first panel (1) when being set down in
a region below the locking edge (8).
Inventors: |
Schulte; Guido;
(Ruthen-Meiste, DE) ; Eschlbeck; Franz-Josef;
(Prien am Chiemsee, DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SCHULTE; Guido |
Ruthen-Meiste |
|
DE |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000004839929 |
Appl. No.: |
16/061822 |
Filed: |
December 14, 2016 |
PCT Filed: |
December 14, 2016 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/DE2016/100586 |
371 Date: |
June 13, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16B 5/0032
20130101 |
International
Class: |
F16B 5/00 20060101
F16B005/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 14, 2015 |
DE |
10 2015 121 761.9 |
Claims
1-12. (canceled)
13. A connection for joining edge sides of adjacent first and
second panels by a substantially vertical joining movement to lock
the first and second panels in horizontal and vertical directions,
with one of the first and second panels having a locking edge for
vertical locking, said connection comprising: a support strip
formed as a projection on an edge side of the one of the first and
second panels; a locking element located below the support strip
and arranged on the other one of the first and second panels, said
locking element configured for displacement with respect to the
first and second panels behind the locking edge by a pivoting
movement and including a locking projection for displacement behind
the locking edge and an arcuate guide arm which is guided in a
guide groove of the other one of the first and second panels and is
constructed to be partially pulled out of the guide groove with a
rotary or pivotal movement of the locking element such that a leg
of the locking element protruding from the guide groove comes into
contact during placement with the one of the first and second
panels in a region below the locking edge; and a locking strip
provided on the one of the first and second panels, with the other
one of the first and second panels resting in a locking position on
the support strip between a top side and the locking strip of the
one of the first and second panels, said locking strip sized to
protrude furthest from the edge side of the one of the first and
second panels and to engage below the other one of the first and
second panels to be subsequently laid for horizontal locking, said
first and second panels including upward and downward facing
coupling channels and coupling beads for mutual engagement for
horizontal locking.
14. The connection of claim 13, wherein the leg is rigidly
connected to the arcuate guide arm.
15. The connection of claim 13, wherein the guide groove has at
least one section with an arcuate curvature.
16. The connection of claim 13, wherein the guide groove has a
lower groove flank which has at least one section with a concave
curvature.
17. The connection of claim 13, wherein the guide arm has a bottom
side which faces a bottom side of the first and second panels and
has at least one section with a convex curvature.
18. The connection of claim 13, wherein the leg engages in the
locking position in a latching recess on the one of the first and
second panels.
19. The connection of claim 13, wherein the one of the first and
second panels has a locking surface which is inclined with respect
to a laying plane and arranged adjacent to the locking edge for
engagement with the locking projection.
20. The connection of claim 13, wherein the guide arm has a free
end which is constructed such that a bottom side of the guide arm
is pressed remote from a groove mouth of the guide groove against a
lower groove flank of the guide groove in the locking position in
order to lock the first and second panels vertically against each
other.
21. The connection of claim 13, wherein the other one of the first
and second panels includes an edge side which is configured without
said locking element and provided with a profile for vertical
locking, said profile comprising a stationary spring tongue
configured for engagement with a groove below the locking edge.
22. The connection of claim 21, wherein the other one of the first
and second panels is held on the one of the first and second panels
by pressure exerted by the stationary spring tongue.
23. The connection of claim 13, wherein the other one of the first
and second panels is held on the one of the first and second panels
by pressure exerted by the locking element against the one of the
first and second panels from below.
24. The connection of claim 13, wherein a locking movement of the
locking element between an initial position and a locking position
is unidirectional and is directed exclusively from the other one of
the first and second panels towards the one of the first and second
panels.
25. The connection of claim 13, wherein the locking element is
produced by a machining process.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to mechanical connections for panels
that can be connected to each other to form a covering.
[0002] Wall, ceiling and floor coverings, such as prefabricated
parquet, real wood floors or laminate floors, consist of several
rows of panels having a predominantly rectangular configuration.
Conventionally, the panels have continuous grooves on one
longitudinal side and on one head side and continuous springs on
the respective opposite longitudinal side or head side, which are
adapted to the grooves in a form-fitting manner. The panels are
laid by connecting tongue and groove, wherein the panels of two
adjacent rows are offset from one another.
[0003] It is known to form mechanical locking means on the grooves
and springs, which latchingly engage with one another in adjacent
panels of a floor covering. This is intended to prevent a joint
formation due to expansion or shrinkage processes. Locking elements
that match the tongue and groove of the panels are formed as
indentations, recesses or projections to hold the panels in the
assembled position without the need for an adhesive.
[0004] In general, the panels are rotated or clicked into each
other along their long sides and then moved laterally, so that the
locking strips engage at the head sides.
[0005] Resilient locking elements for vertical locking of adjacent
panels are known, which protrude from the edge side, which must be
pushed back behind the edge side when laying the panels and which
must be displaced again beyond the edge side in the connected
position to connect the panels. The two-directional movement is
complex.
[0006] It is the object of the invention to disclose a mechanical
connection for panels, which are in particular connectable to a
floor covering, wherein the locking mechanism does not require to
first pushing back a locking element before it reaches the locking
position.
[0007] This object is attained by a connection with the features of
claim 1.
[0008] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of
the dependent claims.
[0009] The mechanical connection is provided for edge sides with
panels to be joined. Adjacent first and second panels can be locked
by a substantially vertical joining movement in the horizontal and
vertical directions. Horizontal direction means here parallel to
the laying plane. Vertical means here perpendicular to the laying
plane. It is assumed in the following and with reference to terms
such as top, bottom, horizontal and vertical, that the panels are
floor panels, which are correspondingly laid horizontally and
placed downward substantially vertically. Accordingly, the vertical
lock operates in the vertical direction and the horizontal lock in
the horizontal direction.
[0010] For vertical locking, a locking edge is formed on the first
panel to be laid first. A locking element that is displaceable
relative to both panels is arranged at the second panel which is to
be laid subsequently and connected to the first panel. The locking
element is displaceable behind, or as viewed from above below, the
locking edge of the first panel by a pivoting movement. For this
purpose, the locking element has a locking projection for
displacement behind/under the locking edge. The locking element
furthermore has an in particular arcuate guide arm which is guided
on a guide groove of the first panel. The guide arm is designed to
be partially pulled out of the guide groove with a rotary or
pivoting movement of the locking element, in that a leg of the
locking element protruding from the guide groove comes into contact
during placement with the first panel in a region below the locking
edge.
[0011] The contact of the leg with the first panel causes the leg
to move away from the first panel, with an upward force being
exerted on the locking element and in particular the guide arm. The
guide arm and the guide groove are formed such that the locking
element is pressed quasi upward and can be partially pulled out of
the guide groove. The upward movement, i.e. away from the bottom of
the panels, is a guided movement. The direction of movement is at
least partially defined by the guide groove and the guide arm. The
movement takes place along a curve or along several circular arc
sections, in particular along a single circular arc section. The
transition between adjacent curve sections may be smooth and
without jumps, so that the curve sections join one another
tangentially, However, break points in the curve in the transition
from adjacent curve sections are also conceivable. Straight
sections can alternate with curve sections. Even a sequence of
shorter but straight sections that interconnect like a chain is
possible for creating a curved profile.
[0012] The leg which is supported on the first panel causes the
guide arm to be pulled out of the guide groove and, due to the
mutual guidance, to execute a rotary or pivoting movement. The term
rotary movement refers to circular arc movements. The term pivotal
movement refers to non-circular arc movements. The movements may
also be combined.
[0013] The mechanical connection according to the invention is
based on the principle that the locking element is displaced for
locking purposes only in a single direction. The locking element is
held in an initial position within the guide groove and can be
rotated or pivoted into the locking position. The pivoting is
according to the invention not bidirectional, i.e. first into the
guide groove and then again out of the guide groove, but
unidirectional, i.e. only out of the guide groove under the
influence of the leg, which is pushed upwards by the first
panel.
[0014] The panels have a horizontal connection and a vertical
connection at their edge sides to be joined together. The
horizontal connection can be produced in that the first panel to be
laid engages below the second panel to be laid. For this purpose,
grooves and projections, which are open toward the top and toward
the bottom, are provided on the panels, which can engage with each
other for horizontal locking. The horizontal locking can also be
effected by a separate locking element arranged at the bottom side
of the panels, for example in the form of a separate clip.
[0015] The vertical locking is effected by said locking element,
which can be displaced behind/below the locking edge of the other
panel. The locking element is arranged only on the second panel,
which is laid subsequent to and laterally adjacent to the first
panel.
[0016] The leg is preferably rigidly connected to the arcuate guide
arm. The rigid connection makes it possible to introduce the forces
originating from the leg directly into the guide arm, so that the
guide arm is pulled out of the guide groove with the force with
which the second panel is laid down. In this way, the locking can
be influenced by way of the pressure exerted on the second panel. A
substantially rigid connection also reduces the number of degrees
of freedom of the locking element and improves the guidance between
the guide groove and guide arm. The term "rigid" is to be
understood functionally, wherein the function of pulling the guide
arm close and the function of guiding the locking element into the
locking position must be ensured. The rigid connection refers to
the respective material properties of the locking element in the
transition region from the guide arm to the leg. Preferably, the
locking element is made as one piece of the same material, so that
not only the connection is rigidly configured, but the material
itself is substantially rigid in order to fulfill the function. The
locking element is preferably made of plastic. Preferably, the
locking element has over its entire length a constant
cross-section, so that it can be produced very economically by
extrusion.
[0017] The locking elements can also be produced by
material-removing processes, in particular by machining. As a
result, very high accuracies can be achieved, whereby the accuracy
of the fit of the locking element can be improved and the precision
of the mechanical connection can be further increased. Combined
manufacturing processes, such as an at least partial machining of a
previously extruded component combine the cost-effective production
of extrusion with the precision of the machining.
[0018] The locking elements may be composed of metallic materials,
in particular of aluminum alloys or iron alloys, in particular of
steel. The locking elements may be composed of wood or wood-based
materials, i.e. made of composite materials. Other composite
materials such as fiber-reinforced plastics can be used.
Preferably, the locking element may be composed exclusively of
plastic. The locking spring may be coated in sections or may have
surface areas with different roughness, in order to reduce the
friction in the guide groove.
[0019] If a panel is not laid down vertically, but by a pivoting
movement, which is also referred to as angling, the locking element
may become twisted, because the leg is not uniformly loaded. To
counteract this, a locking element can be interrupted several times
or several shorter locking elements may also be inserted in a side
of a panel. Therefore, the connection according to the invention is
suitable for panels that are joined together in a substantially
perpendicular manner as well as for panels which are joined by
angling. When the second panel is pivoted back upwardly, the
mechanical connection can be released without requiring tools. It
is also possible to displace the locking element parallel to the
longitudinal side, i.e. to push it out of the guide groove, in
order to unlock the panels.
[0020] The guidance of the guide arm is determined not only by the
preferably arcuate contour of the guide arm, but also by the
contour of the guide groove. Preferably, the contour of the guide
groove has at least in sections an arcuate curvature. In
particular, the lower groove flank of the guide groove should be
curved at least in segments, in particular concave. When the guide
arm is pulled out of the guide groove with the arcuate curvature,
it bears against the guide groove in the region of the mouth of the
upper groove flank. This is due to the upward pressure of the leg.
At the same time, the guide arm is supported by its bottom side on
the lower groove flank. The lower groove flank is, when in
operative engagement with the lower side of the guide arm,
preferably configured so as to be in contact not only along a line,
but over an area. In the region in which the guide arm makes
contact in the locking position, the lower groove flank can be
adapted to the shape of the locking arm. The arcuate curvature of
the lower groove flank therefore preferably corresponds to the
arcuate curvature of the bottom side of the leg, at least in the
areas in which the two components come into permanent contact with
each other. This region of the guide groove and/or of the bottom
side of the guide arm is preferably flat. Conversely, the contour
of the upper groove flank plays only a minor role, except for the
design and arrangement of the mouth region. The mouth should be
rounded in the area of the upper groove flank so as to enable the
locking body to easily slide on the groove flank.
[0021] The guide groove may be configured so as to clampingly hold
the guide arm in the initial position. For this purpose, the rear
end of the guide groove may be slightly narrower and/or the guide
arm may be slightly thicker in this area. The groove width can
increase accordingly in the center region. As a result, the guide
arm is securely held in the initial position. The locking element
is thereby held captive on the panel. During the displacement of
the locking element, the rear end of the guide arm is thus
initially released and the guide arm can now be moved into the
locking position with significantly reduced friction due to the
larger groove width. In particular, the upper groove flank of the
guide groove may be substantially straight, while the lower groove
flank of the guide groove has a concave curvature. Preferably, the
lower groove flank opens horizontally and rises from the bottom of
the groove continuously towards the top. The bottom of the groove
is preferably closer to the top of the panel than the mouth of the
upper groove flank. As a result, a locking member having a guide
arm which almost or completely reaches the bottom of the groove
cannot be pulled out of the guide groove horizontally.
[0022] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the leg may
come into positive engagement with the first panel so as to prevent
the leg from unimpededly sliding back into the starting position
and thus an unlocking of the mechanical connection. For this
purpose, the leg can in the locking position engage in a latching
recess on the first panel. The latching recess is preferably a
groove or a notch into which the leg snaps. A matching projection
for engaging in the locking recess may be formed at the free end of
the leg.
[0023] In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, a
locking surface that is inclined with respect to the laying plane
is arranged on the first panel adjacent to the locking edge for
engagement with the locking projection. This locking surface serves
to transmit via the locking element into the second panel forces
acting perpendicular to the first panel. Preferably, the locking
element bears flat against this locking surface. The forces
originating from the first panel or the latching surface are
transferred via the guide arm into the second panel. This vertical
locking prevents a height offset between the panels under a
one-sided load. The locking element creates on the second panel a
pressure in the guide groove, which presses the second panel down
against the first panel. The panels become vertically aligned with
each other, i.e. perpendicular to the laying plane, so that no
height offset between the panels is created. The fit is secured. A
free end of the guide arm is thus adapted to be pressed in the
locking position with its bottom side remote from a groove mouth of
the guide groove against the lower groove flank of the guide
groove, thereby locking the panels vertically against each other.
Due to the distance between the bottom side contact region of the
guide arm and the groove mouth, greater forces can be exerted on
the lower groove wall as in a line contact in the region of the
mouth.
[0024] The locking elements according to the invention can also be
secured in the guide groove in that a certain area of the locking
elements has a cross-section that deviates from the other areas.
For example, the locking elements may have at one and preferably at
both ends a projection pointing to the upper and/or lower groove
flank of the guide groove, so that the guide arm has--over its
entire length or only along sections--a slightly larger width and
hence in this area larger friction with the guide groove arises
than in other areas. Thereby, the locking element can be held
captive inside the guide groove, without at the same time
increasing the friction of the guide arm inside the guide groove
over its entire length. Such a projection can already be created by
cutting a locking element to length. For example, when cutting
plastic to length, a lug in the cutting direction, which results
from entrainment of the material along a cutting tool, may be
sufficient to secure the locking element in the guide groove. Such
projections may be formed with suitable cutting means at both ends,
so that both ends of such guide element are secured against falling
out. The advantage with such protrusions is that they can be
produced simultaneously with the cutting to length, without
requiring a separate processing step.
[0025] Alternatively, it is possible to intentionally deform a
longitudinal segment of the locking element transversely to the
longitudinal extent of the locking element, e.g. by a corrugation.
As a result, the guide arm sits in the deformed area slightly
firmer in the guide groove than in other areas. The deformation is
sufficient if the locking element is held captive. Such deformed
areas are preferably located at the ends of each locking element.
Such deformations on the locking element can also be created by
upsetting the ends of the locking elements, which thicker regions
are produced at the ends, which may lead to a tighter fit of the
end portions of the locking element in a guide groove.
[0026] Because embossing or upsetting of the end portions could
also deform the leg, it is possible for ensuring precise locking to
remove the leg in the region of the deformed ends that are provided
for the positional orientation of the locking element. The deformed
ends, which are formed without legs, can be very short and limited
to a few millimeters, in particular to less than 10 mm. As a
result, only a fraction of the length of the locking element is
used for positional orientation of the locking element in the guide
groove, while the major portion participates in the vertical
locking.
[0027] According to another embodiment of the invention, the edge
sides of the panel that are not provided with said lock member are
provided with a profile for vertical locking, which includes a
stationary spring tongue, which can be brought into engagement with
a groove below the locking edge. This embodiment takes into account
the case that a panel is rotated by 90.degree. or 180.degree.. Also
in this case, a mechanical connection in the vertical direction
should be feasible. For this purpose, a groove is formed below the
locking edge in adaptation to stationary spring tongues of the
other edge sides.
[0028] According to another embodiment of the invention, the second
panel rests in the locking position on a support strip between the
top side of the first panel and the locking strip, wherein the
second panel is held by the spring tongue on the first panel for
vertical locking either by the pressure of the locking element from
below against the first panel or for a stationary spring. The
support strip is thus part of the vertical locking, wherein this
part of the vertical locking prevents the second panel from being
lowered too much relative to the first panel. The support strip
preferably runs parallel to the top side of the panels. Other
orientations are possible as long as a support for the second panel
is available on the first panel.
[0029] The panels may be rectangular or square. Typically, one side
is formed with a locking element and the opposite side with a
mating locking edge. It is possible to provide adjacent corner-to
corner sides of such panels with these locking elements. In this
case, the two other sides are provided with the matching locking
edges. This should allow greater flexibility when laying square
panels.
[0030] The inventive idea is applicable to all floor-, wall- and
ceiling-systems. In addition to panels without coatings, in
particular top coverings on a carrier can be provided with the
mechanical connection. The carrier may be in particular a wood
panel, such as an MDF, HDF or particle board. The mechanical
connection is suitable for real wood coverings, laminate, carriers
with painted surfaces as top covering, linoleum, cork on support
panels, etc. The cover layer may in particular consist of a
decorative paper with overlay, which determines the appearance of
the elements.
[0031] A floor covering can thus be a prefabricated parquet floor,
a real wood floor or a laminate floor. Likewise, elements of solid
material, such as wood flooring, wooden elements, cast or
injection-molded panels made of plastic, in particular PVC, vinyl
or molded parts or plasterboard. The locking elements can also be
used with panels having a lesser thickness of 4 to 8 mm. The panels
may be, inter alia, panels for PVC flooring, e.g. carrier panels
with top-side PVC-based coverings. The panels may also be plastic
panels or cement-based panels. The individual panels may be
fiber-reinforced. WPC/BPC (Wood-Plastic
Compound/Bamboo-Plastic-Compound) materials are as suitable as
panels of wood-powder-proportions (mixture of wood fibers, pigments
and binders).
[0032] The covering according to the invention allows--with
corresponding locking grooves--snap connections which can be made
both by swiveling (fold down) and by vertical placement from above.
The covering according to the invention is suitable for rectangular
and square panels as well as for design layouts where cross joints
are formed. This results in a much greater design variety for this
type of so-called snap panels. The invention is not limited to a
rectangular of the panels and in particular not to the fact that
the panels of two adjacent rows are arranged offset from one
another.
[0033] Advantageously, the locking element according to the
invention does not protrude beyond the edge side of the panel in
the unlocked state and therefore does not come into contact with
the panel laid down first above the locking edge to be engaged from
behind. The spring is protected, may be held in the initial
position clamped and/or with adhesive substances, with the adhesion
effect being released upon locking. The locking elements can be
used for panels having thicknesses greater than 4 mm and in
particular for squares.
[0034] The invention will now be explained in more detail with
reference to exemplary embodiments illustrated schematically in the
drawings, which show in:
[0035] FIG. 1 a vertical section through the edge region of two
mutually engaging panels according to a first embodiment;
[0036] FIG. 2 a vertical section of FIG. 1 during the
connection;
[0037] FIG. 3a to g a vertical section through the edge region of
two panels to be joined together according to another embodiment
during joining;
[0038] FIG. 4a to g a vertical section through the edge region of
two panels to be joined according to the first embodiment;
[0039] FIG. 5a a vertical section through the edge region of two
panels to be joined according to a third embodiment;
[0040] FIG. 5b a vertical section through the edge region of the
second panel according to FIGS. 1 to 4;
[0041] FIG. 6a a vertical section through the edge region of two
mutually engaging panels according to FIG. 5a;
[0042] FIG. 613 FIG. 4g in an enlarged view;
[0043] FIG. 7a a vertical section through the edge region of two
mutually engaging panels according to a fourth embodiment;
[0044] FIG. 7b FIG. 3g in an enlarged view;
[0045] FIG. 8 a vertical section through the edge region of two
mutually engaging panels in two different positions of the locking
element (angle W1);
[0046] FIG. 9 a vertical section through the edge region of two
mutually engaging panels according to a fifth embodiment;
[0047] FIG. 10 the edge region according to FIG. 8 with indicated
force vectors;
[0048] FIG. 11 ends of locking elements in a perspective view
looking towards the guide arm;
[0049] FIG. 12 the locking elements of FIG. 10 in a perspective
view looking towards the leg; and
[0050] FIG. 13 a cross-section of the locking element of FIGS. 10
and 11 before and after embossing.
[0051] FIG. 1 shows the cross section through the connecting region
of two panels 1, 2. The panels 1, 2 are configured so that they can
be assembled into a covering, in particular a floor covering. The
panels 1, 2 have a bottom side 3 facing the subsurface and a top
side 4 corresponding to the visible side. The bottom side 3 and the
top side 4 are parallel to a laying plane V.
[0052] The second panel 2 has on the side facing the first panel 1
a locking element 6 in a guide groove 7. The locking element 6 is
adapted to engage behind a locking edge 8 on the first panel 1 or
to engage under the locking edge 8 as viewed from above. The
locking edge 8 is located below a support strip 9, which is formed
as a projection on the side 10 of the first panel 1. The support
strip 9 extends in this embodiment on the top side parallel to the
laying plane V. Other orientations of the top of the support strip
9 are possible. The top can e.g. extend at an acute angle with
respect to the laying plane V. A corresponding recess is formed on
the edge side 5 of the second panel 2, so that the second panel 2
is supported near its top side 4 on the first panel 1 perpendicular
to the laying plane V.
[0053] The first panel 1 has a locking strip 11. The locking strip
11 of the first panel 1 projects farthest from the side 10 of the
first panel 1. The second panel 2 has a downwardly open coupling
channel 12 and an adjoining downwardly oriented coupling bead 13.
The second panel 2 is arranged opposite the first panel 1 such that
when lowered in the direction of the arrow P, the coupling bead 13
of the second panel 2 engages with an upwardly open coupling
channel 14 of the locking strip 11 and the coupling channel 12 of
the second panel 2 engages with a coupling bead 15 of the locking
strip 11. This area of the panels 1, 2 serves to horizontally
connect the panels 1, 2.
[0054] Placement in the direction of the arrow P can be effected in
that the top side 4 of the second panel 2 is displaced parallel to
the laying plane V. Alternatively, the second panel 2 can be angled
with respect to the first panel 1 by pivoting (fold down) about
another edge side.
[0055] The coupling bead 15 on the locking strip 11 of the first
panel 1 and the downwardly projecting coupling bead 13 on the
second panel 2 each have an inclined top side or bottom side, so
that the coupling bead 13 of the second panel 2 slides on the
coupling bead 15 of the initially laid first panel 1 even when the
panels 1, 2 are pushed together in the direction of the laying
plane V, i.e. when pushed together horizontally. In this case, the
second panel 2 is raised until the two panels 1, 2 are guided over
the highest point of the coupling bead 15 of the locking strip 11.
The second panel 2 then slips automatically into the upwardly open
coupling channel 14 on the locking strip 11. The panels 1, 2 can
therefore be connected to one another not only by vertical
placement or angling, but also by pushing them into one another
horizontally in the direction of the laying plane V.
[0056] An essential part of the connection between the two panels
1, 2 is the locking element 6 and the cooperation of the profiles
in the region of the edge sides 5, 10 of the panels 1, 2. The
locking element 6 has a guide arm 16. The guide arm 16 is that part
which is arranged in the guide groove 7 and holds the locking
element 6 on the second panel 2. The locking element 6 has a
locking projection 17 which projects out of the guide groove 7. The
locking projection 17 is the region in front of the guide arm 16,
which is located outside the guide groove 7.
[0057] In the sectional view, the locking element 6 has a
substantially L-shaped or Y-shaped cross-section, because a leg 18
is connected to the locking projection 17 downwardly in the image
plane. The leg 18 therefore does not project beyond the edge side 5
of the second panel 2. It extends in the starting position in the
direction of the coupling bead 13 and bears against the second
panel 2. The leg 18 is intended to pivot the locking element 6 and
contacts a guide surface 19 located below the locking edge 8 on the
first panel 1, when the second panel 2 is lowered in the direction
of the arrow P. The guide surface 19 in this embodiment has a
concave curvature. A groove 20, which is open to the side edge 10
and serves to receive a stationary spring tongue, is connected to
the guide surface 19, as shown in FIG. 5a. The guide arm 16 is
connected flexurally rigidly, i.e. essentially rigidly, to a leg
18.
[0058] Two support strips 31, 32 are arranged at the free end of
the leg 18, which are intended to come into contact with the guide
surface 19. They come, during operative engagement with the guide
surface 19, in line contact with the guide surface 19, thereby
reducing the friction compared to an area contact.
[0059] The locking element 16 is guided in the guide groove 7. For
this purpose, the lower groove flank 21 of the guide groove 7 has a
concave curvature. In this particular embodiment, the guide groove
7 is shaped as a circular arc, as seen from the line L1. The line
L1 describes a circle about a pivot point S, which is located above
the guide groove 7. A line L2 describes a smaller radius, also
about the pivot point S. It can be seen that the guide arm has a
bottom 22 with a convex curvature, wherein the curvature of the
line L1 corresponds to the concave curvature of the lower groove
flank 21 of the guide groove 7.
[0060] On the other hand, the guide arm 16 bears in the region of
the mouth of the guide groove 7 on the top side against the upper
groove flank 23, wherein the mouth region is located on the line
L2. Accordingly, the locking element 6 is displaced along the two
circular arcs (lines L1 and L2). The angle W1 indicates how far at
least the locking element needs to be pivoted until both support
strips 31, 32 come into contact with the guide surface 19.
[0061] FIGS. 3a to g show the intended sequence of movements. In
FIG. 3a, the two panels 1, 2 are shown shortly before the locking
element 6 comes into contact with the first panel 1. Upon contact
with the guide surface 19, the leg 18 of the locking element 6
pushes the locking element 6 upwards, so that the guide arm 16 is
pulled out of the guide groove 7. FIGS. 3c to 3f show the further
course of this pivoting movement until finally the locking position
is reached in FIG. 3g. The two panels 1, 2 are located at the same
height, because the second panel 2 rests on the support strip 9 of
the first panel 1. As a result, the support strip 9 is clamped
between the locking element 6 and the second panel 2 resting on the
top side. At the same time, the locking element 6 prevents the
second panel 2 from being lifted away vertically from the first
panel 1.
[0062] The diagram of FIG. 2 shows a possible slightly different
joining movement. It has the identical components as in FIGS. 1 and
3; however, horizontal and vertical movements are superimposed in
this embodiment. The second panel 2 is, on the one hand, lowered in
the direction of the arrow P, i.e. vertically. On the other hand,
the second panel 2 is also displaced horizontally in the direction
of the arrow H, i.e. in the direction of the first panel 1, so that
the edge sides 5, 10 of the panels 1, 2 abut one another. The panel
2 is shown in two different positions. The exact joining movement
results from the contact between the coupling beads 15 and 13 in
the transition region to their respective coupling grooves 12, 14.
The angle W2 relative to the laying plane V is preferably 55 to
65.degree., in particular 60.degree.. This is the flank angle in
the transition between the coupling bead 13, 15 and coupling
channel 12, 14 of the first and second panels 1, 2. The second
depicted angle W2 denotes the angle with respect to the laying
plane V, which has a locking surface 24 adjoining the locking edge
8. The locking projection 17 abuts the latching surface 24 over an
area. Forces which act from above on the first panel 1 can be
introduced via the latching surface 24 into the locking element 6
over an area. The locking element 6 in turn transfers these forces
via the guide arm 7 to the second panel. The guide arm 7 herein
essentially points toward the coupling bead 15 of the first panel 1
and hence presses the coupling bead 13 in the region of the
supporting flank 25 onto the associated supporting flank 26 of the
other panel. The arrow F in FIG. 7 shows the effective direction of
this force.
[0063] While in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3, the guide surface
19 has a slight concave curvature, but is otherwise formed without
projections or depressions, the embodiment of FIGS. 4a to 4g
incorporates a locking element 6, which is provided for engaging in
a latching recess 27 on the first panel 1. FIGS. 4a to g, like
FIGS. 3a to g for the first embodiment, show the sequence of
movements. As can be seen, a projection 28 which initially slides
over the guide surface 19 is formed on the bottom side of the leg
18. The guide surface 19 is not concave in this embodiment, but is
merely slightly inclined for defining the direction relative to the
laying plane V. When the locking element 6 is far enough swung out,
the projection 28 engages in the latching recess 27 in the region
of the lower groove flank of the groove 20. This locks the
mechanical connection vertically. As a result, the locking element
6 should rest firmly against the first panel 1 in the region of the
latching surface 24, even after the projection 28 snaps into the
latching recess 27, so that the panels 1, 2 are securely connected
to one another.
[0064] Both embodiments according to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 cause the
guide arm 16 to be pulled out of the guide groove 7. The movement
is unidirectional in each case, i.e. is directed only away from the
second panel 2 towards the first panel 1. These two exemplary
embodiments represent a pure rotation about a fixed pivot point S,
which is located spatially inside the second panel 2.
[0065] FIGS. 5a and 5b show in the comparison once the longitudinal
side of the panel 2 (FIG. 5a) and the aforedescribed head side 5 of
the panel 2.
[0066] FIG. 6a shows the longitudinal edge side 29 of the panel 2,
wherein a stationary spring tongue 30 is arranged on this edge side
29. The spring tongue 30 is constructed to match the groove 21 on
the first panel 1. FIGS. 6a and 613 show the assembled position.
FIG. 6b corresponds to the diagram of FIG. 4g. It shows the
mechanical connection between the panels 1, 2, preferably in the
region of their head-side edge sides. FIG. 6a shows for exactly the
same first panel 1 the connection of a longitudinal edge side 29
with a head side 10 of the first panel 1.
[0067] The same situation arises even when no locking recess 27 is
arranged adjacent to the groove 20 below the locking edge 8, as in
the embodiment of FIGS. 6a and 6b. FIGS. 7a and 7b show this
situation, with the difference that the guide face 19 in the first
panel 1 has only a concave curvature, which has no influence on the
engagement of the stationary spring tongue 30 in the groove 20.
FIG. 7b corresponds to the diagram of FIG. 3g and shows only the
connection of the edge sides of the sides 5, 10 of the panels 1, 2,
in contrast to the connection of the edge sides 10, 29 in FIG.
5a.
[0068] FIG. 8 shows a vertical section through the edge region of
two mutually engaging panels 1, 2 in two different positions of the
locking element 6, to illustrate the angle W1 by which the locking
element 6 has to pivot for locking. The angle W1 is measured on a
side facing away from the guide arm 16 and a side facing the groove
20 and is 20 to 35.degree.. In this example between 25 and
30.degree.. The design of the locking recess 27 and a projection 37
in the transition from the groove 20 to the locking surface 24
prevent the leg 18 from being further displaced in the direction of
the groove 21, as shown at the bottom of FIG. 8.
[0069] FIG. 9 shows that the lower groove flank 21 has a flat
region 33. This flat region 33 is located where the guide arm makes
contact in the locking position. In this embodiment, the flat
region 33 runs parallel to the laying plane V. As a result, a force
which originates from the guide arm 16 acts exclusively
perpendicular to the laying plane V and presses the second panel 2
downwards against the first panel 1.
[0070] FIG. 10 shows the corresponding force vectors. The arrow F1
shows the direction of the force that originates from the guide arm
16 and presses onto the lower groove flank 21 of the guide groove
7. The arrow F2 shows the direction of the force acting on the
locking element 6 from the second panel 2, specifically in the area
of the groove mouth of the upper groove flank 23. The force is
directed in the direction of the leg 18. The arrow F3 shows the
direction of the force exerted by the first panel 1 on the locking
element 6, specifically perpendicular to the locking surface 24
below the locking edge 8. This force presses the guide arm 16
against the lower groove flank 21 of the guide groove. The arrow F4
indicates that a force or force component acting substantially
parallel to laying plane V acts on the leg 18 in the region of the
locking recess 27. This produces a torque on the guide arm 16,
which in turn presses the second panel 2 downward against the first
panel 1 (arrow F1). For this purpose, the latching recess 27 has on
its side facing the locking strip 11 a support wall 34 (FIG. 8)
which encloses with the laying plane V an angle between 45.degree.
and 90.degree., i.e. is relatively steep and therefore enables
secure locking of the locking element 6.
[0071] FIGS. 11 and 12 show ends 35, 36 of adjacent locking
elements 6, with the leg 18 having been removed, in order to deform
the guide arms 16 in these areas by embossing. In this example, the
ends 35, 36 are corrugated in the region of the guide arms 16. FIG.
13 shows on the left a cross-section through the locking element 16
outside the end region 35 and on the right the cross-section inside
the end region 35. The corrugation causes the guide arms 15 to be
thicker in the end regions 35, 36. As a result, the locking element
16 can be fixed in a guide groove 6 by clamping. The manufacture is
inexpensive and can be carried out while cutting profile provided
in particular as endless strand.
REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0072] 1 panel
[0073] 2 panel
[0074] 3 bottom side
[0075] 4 top side
[0076] 5 edge side
[0077] 6 locking element
[0078] 7 guide groove
[0079] 8 locking edge
[0080] 9 support strip
[0081] 10 edge side
[0082] 11 locking strip
[0083] 12 coupling channel
[0084] 13 coupling bead
[0085] 14 coupling channel
[0086] 15 coupling bead
[0087] 16 guide arm
[0088] 17 locking projection
[0089] 18 leg
[0090] 19 guide surface
[0091] 20 groove
[0092] 21 lower groove flank
[0093] 22 bottom side of 16
[0094] 23 upper groove flank of 7
[0095] 24 locking surface
[0096] 25 supporting flank
[0097] 26 supporting flank
[0098] 27 locking recess
[0099] 28 projection
[0100] 29 edge side
[0101] 30 spring tongue
[0102] 31 support strip
[0103] 32 support strip
[0104] 33 flat area
[0105] 34 supporting wall
[0106] 35 end
[0107] 36 end
[0108] 37 projection
[0109] F arrow in the direction of the force
[0110] F1 arrow in the direction of the force
[0111] F2 arrow in the direction of the force
[0112] F3 arrow in the direction of the force
[0113] F4 arrow in the direction of the force
[0114] H arrow in the horizontal direction
[0115] L1 line
[0116] L2 line
[0117] P arrow in the vertical direction
[0118] S pivot point
[0119] V laying level
[0120] W angle
[0121] W1 angle
[0122] W2 angle
[0123] W3 angle
* * * * *